Beware of added sugar! Sugar will not only add to a rums perceived sweetness, but will amplify flavours and add to mouthfeel. The addition of sugar to rum is commonplace, particularly to well-aged rums to counter bitter oak tannins.

Rums that have been aged for long periods show a greenish tint around the meniscus with the glass. This is best seen by holding the glass slightly tipped and against a white surface. A useful way of evaluating the body of a rum is to swill the glass of rum around and then observe the 'legs' or 'tears' left on the glass. Light-bodied rums produce narrow tears that move quickly, while full-bodied rums through wide tears that move slowly.